In ancient Rome, gladiators fought, often to the death, to entertain crowds of spectators. Gladiators were trained in ludi to fight well in circuses (or the Colosseum) where the ground surface was covered with blood-absorbing harena 'sand' (hence, the name 'arena')

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/romeslavery/p/Gladiators.htm

http://www.visitcolchester.com/Roman-Colchester.aspx



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